ParlorGet Parlor
Parlor is one purchase on the App Store that covers iPhone, iPad and Apple TV, with a Mac app alongside. There are no in-app purchases and Family Sharing is on.
Requirements
| Device | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | iOS 17 | Haptics on every touch button |
| iPad | iPadOS 17 | Hardware keyboards work out of the box |
| Apple TV | tvOS 17 | A Bluetooth controller is required to play |
| Mac | macOS 14 | Apple silicon or Intel; native app |
Parlor doesn't need any BIOS or system files for Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance or Nintendo DS games. Nothing to find or download.
Download
Open the App Store and search for Parlor, or use the link on the home page. Once installed, the same purchase unlocks the Apple TV app.
Open the App Store on your Apple TV and search for Parlor. If you already bought it on an iPhone or iPad, look under Purchased. There's nothing to configure: sign in to the same iCloud account and your library metadata, saves and save states appear on their own.
Download Parlor from the Mac App Store. The Mac app is sandboxed: it only reads game files you open, drop onto the window, or choose in the file picker.
First launch
- Walk through the three welcome screens
They introduce the systems Parlor plays, how to add games on the device you're holding, and controllers and iCloud. Skip is in the corner if you've seen it before.
- Try the bundled game
Every library starts with Libbet and the Magic Floor, a free homebrew puzzle game. It's a real cartridge image, so it's a good way to try touch controls, save states, filters and fast forward before adding your own games.
- Add your games
Tap + in the library. See Adding games for every path in, including archives and dropping files into the Parlor folder in Files.
- Pair a controller (optional, but recommended)
Touch controls are fine on a phone; a pad is better. Parlor works with DualSense, DualShock 4, Xbox Wireless, Switch Pro, 8BitDo, Backbone and any MFi controller. See Controllers.
What Parlor includes, and what it doesn't
- Included: the emulator, one homebrew game, box art lookups, iCloud sync, Game Center link play.
- Not included: commercial games, or any way to download them. Parlor plays files you already own, and never links to sites that distribute games.
- Not needed: BIOS files. The GBA core has a built-in high-level BIOS; the DS core ships with a free replacement BIOS and firmware that boots retail and homebrew titles.